•From left: DJ Dope Caesar, DelFest Director Mr. Elvis Umegbolu and DJ Humility at the show
Asaba, in the heart of Delta State, came alive with an unprecedented fusion of entertainment and entrepreneurial spirit during the inaugural DelFest 2024. What began as a multi-day festival transformed into a powerful testament to the region’s potential for cultural and economic innovation, drawing together music enthusiasts, business leaders and creative minds.
The festival’s crescendo arrived on a memorable Sunday evening, November 24, when a constellation of disc jockeys transformed The Dome Event Centre into an electrifying musical landscape. Ace female DJ Dope Caesar, alongside veteran DJs Humility, Hilson and Cent G, orchestrated a sonic journey that captivated Asaba’s music lovers from 7:30 pm until the early hours of Monday morning.
It was indeed a super charged atmosphere as ace female DJ Dope Caesar, veteran DJ Humility and DJ Hilson and DJ Cent G held Asaba music lovers and party goers to an enthralling evening that Sunday. It was an evening where Disc Jockeys and hype-men held the audience in music delirium. The organisers have also swung into preparation mode for the second edition in 2025 at a date to be announced soon. The electrifying music jam that lasted from 7.30pm on Sunday, November 24 to 4.00am on Monday, November 25, 2024 brought the three-day multi-pronged business and entertainment festival to a glorious end.
With DJ Cent G starting the party on a warm evening with his deft touches on the wheels, it looked certain the evening was building up to an extravaganza of music. And when DJ Dope Caesar stepped in on the turntable, it was clear Asaba night was on fire. Those who had no intention of being at the party but who could hear or be told about it quickly headed for The Dome Event Centre on Opanam Road. And by 11 pm tickets were still selling fast as fans were still arriving in their numbers. The festive atmosphere was unmistakable as young men and women danced their hearts out to jams spilling from the turntables.
However, a statement from DelFest organisers blamed music act Odumodu Blvk’s absence at the show to irreconcilable differences. Titled ‘DelFest Hails DJs Dope Caesar and Humility, Others’ it says, “We, the organisers of DelFest 2024, would like to apologise to fans that bought tickets to see Odumodublvk perform but could not do so. His absence was due to irreconcilable differences. However, we are gratified with the exceptional performances of DJs Dope Caesar and Humility who were also on the performance bill. They took the crowd to Cloud 9 and back. Indeed, it was a promise kept in spite of the absence of one act. DelFest promises to give our fans across Nigeria a memorable festival in 2025. We extend the same hand of fellowship to our numerous vendors who kept faith as well. As first events are wont to go, missteps are inevitable. But be assured of exceptional DelFest outings going forward. We will not relent in expanding the business space in Delta State and Nigeria to take our young ones off the streets of crime and criminality, with a dose of entertainment thrown in.”
DelFest 2024 had business exhibition showcase where the best of Asaba business men and women took stalls to exhibit their goods and services to a large gathering of patrons. The first day was dedicated to a business networking dinner that had CEOs and business owners dining and networking and connecting for more business opportunities. Chief of Staff to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Assembly member Hon. Johnson Erijo graced the dinner, and was accompanied by Chief Obi Cubana, Chief (Dr.) Emeka Okonkwo (E Money), Chief Abig Nwakwo, and Mrs. Ginger Eke.
Also in attendance were DelFest sponsor and representatives of the first real estate network marketing company in the world PWAN Group, led by its Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Michael Afamefuna Okonkwo, Vice President Dr. Frederick Okpaje, Group Executive Director, Corporate Communication and Events and Executive Director, PWAN Premium, Dr. Vera Oberabor, Emeka Ayiam and Amb. Austin Ejiofor, the royal father of the day the Orodje of Okpe and Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers HRM Major-General Felix Mujakeruo (rtd), Orhue 1, (CFR), who was represented by the Obi of Ubulu-Uno and 2nd Vice Chairman of the traditional rulers council HRM Obi Kikachukwu Henry Afamefune, Chairman, League of Likemind International Club, Asaba, Amb. Valentine Chukwuma, DelFest’s partners – MD/CEO, Schoolville, Mr. Charles Omordia and CEO, Mr. LisBon Alpha Lucky, business coaches Dr. Linus Okorie, Amb. Rume Dominic among others.
The dinner was anchored by ace comedian Ali Baba where Dr. Okorie spoke to the gathering of CEOs and political figures how trust and personality traits are business currencies that the late boardroom guru Deacon Gamaliel Onosode wielded to an impeccable effect, and urged every businessman, woman and politician to emulate Deacon Onosode’s personal virtues that still resonate. Ali Baba and Amb. Dominic then urged the dinners to help sponsor students to DelFest’s Tech Skills Scholarship scheme at N300,000 per student who will undergo three months’ training at Delta State’s Tech Innovation Hub, Asaba.
The business summit on Day-2 also had a health professional and Executive Director with Dubai General Hospital Dr. Njideka Nto speaking on the effect of stress on businesses and relationships while Warri-based blockchain expert Amb. Rume Dominic spoke on deploying AI to solve content and marketing issues in businesses, just as ace Port Harcourt-based fashion designer Oti Ukpai showed how Nigeria’s fashion industry is still under-utilised and unharnessed, saying it’s potentially worth billions of dollars but hardly scratched. Comedian Gordons also lent his voice to the seminar on raising stars in the state, lamenting that the political elites and leaders “have killed the ability of our young ones to dream”, as they no longer have confidence to step forward to showcase their inner worth and talents.